A Texas chiropractor and another individual were discovered deceased following a significant flash flood in the Grand Canyon over the weekend. The canyon was engulfed in heavy rain, and there are concerns about the possibility of more flooding. Around 80 individuals were rescued during the flood, while one person remains unaccounted for.
Officials, led by Incident Cmdr. Dave Black, utilized night vision technology and other tools to locate and evacuate individuals in need over the weekend. The park’s permit system and vehicle license plates were used to track the number of missing persons.
Grand Canyon deputy superintendent Brian Drapeaux noted that there may be day hikers who did not obtain permits and were thus not reported as missing by the park. Weather experts have cautioned that further rain and thunderstorms might lead to additional flooding in the renowned tourist destination, which saw numerous visitors evacuated following the storm-triggered flood in Bright Angel Creek on Saturday.
The flood extensively damaged the canyon’s sole water pipeline, prompting emergency water usage restrictions for residents and the closure of lodges and hotels within the park for tourists. Video footage captured muddy, debris-laden floodwaters carrying remnants of a bunkhouse and rocks through the canyon. The National Weather Service reported four waves of rainfall over two creek drainages during the weekend, resulting in sudden flash flooding.
Authorities stated that the region typically receives less than 25 centimeters of rain annually. The bodies of a 46-year-old man and another individual were recovered in the aftermath of the flood. The landscape was significantly altered, with footbridges washed out and the creek bed widened, creating what appeared to be a new river rapid.
Popular spots like Bright Angel Campground, Phantom Ranch, and parts of the North Kaibab trail remained closed for assessment of the damage. Rafting trips on the Colorado River have been temporarily suspended. Hikers recount harrowing experiences, with one group narrowly escaping a debris wall by seeking refuge in a cacti patch and being airlifted to safety later on.
The rapid onset of flooding was attributed to intense rainfall in the rocky terrain with a steep elevation drop. Most of the rain runoff occurred instantly, affecting the north side of the Grand Canyon where Bright Angel Creek descends from the North Rim to the Colorado River.